Wayne Mail was proud of his garden and wanted to make it the best and brightest in the neighbourhood.

Unfortunately for his neighbours, the 49-year-old found his plants by stealing from their flower beds rather than buying them from the garden centre, a court heard.

He also helped himself to plants in public parks and on roundabouts.

Mail lived with his poorly and widowed mother and he was determined to transform their garden to cheer her up. However, he eventually ended up in court.

Marlene Stavers, a resident in the East Yorkshire village of Anlaby Common, became so concerned about her missing flowers she set mouse traps on the lawn and a CCTV camera to catch the crook. It worked and Mail was caught red-handed on camera.

He was seen casually strolling into the neighbour’s garden with a bag in his hand, stooping down, scooping up handfuls of her finest plants and walking off.

Police publicised the CCTV footage and Mail was quickly identified and arrested.

Today he appeared before Beverley Magistrates’ Court and was sentenced to an 18 month community order with supervision and ordered to pay £85 compensation and a £60 victim surcharge.

Caught on camera: Unfortunately for his neighbours, Mail found his plants by stealing from their flower beds rather than buying them from the garden centre, a court heard

Red (not green) handed: One resident in the East Yorkshire village of Anlaby Common, became so concerned about her missing flowers she set mouse traps on the lawn and a CCTV camera to catch the crook

Mail previously admitted six offences of stealing flowers, one of attempted theft and receiving stolen goods.

PC Andy White, of Humberside Police, said: ‘He had a nice garden, but dozens of the plants had been stolen.